Colorful Character

With an arched entry, delicate iris-shaded walls, and a playful mix of opulence-meets-flea, a humble-size dining room becomes inviting and interesting. Clearly purple, often dismissed by grown-ups because of its popularity with the under-12 crowd, deserves more respect.

Borrow this idea: Dress up a not-so-nice table with fabric, such as a ready-made tablecloth, or even an adapted drop cloth, blanket, or throw.